ARLINGTON — By the dawn’s early light, Freddie Jones arrives at AT&T Stadium with his bright blue trumpet.

In a green room down the hall from the Cowboys locker room, he warms up for hours before his small but critical part of the Cowboys pregame routine.

He plays scales and arpeggios to keep his lips in place and his horn warm. As time goes by, he plays a slow series of the same note.

G-G-G-G-G-G

He wants each note to sound the same, to keep the tone stable and clear. It’s an exercise in focus, to keep his mind on each note rather than the million distractions all around him.

Clearing his mind is his No. 1 goal. When he takes the field, he wants people to focus on the song, not him. After all, it’s the one tune every American knows by heart.

Throughout the stadium, and even in this room, there’s plenty to throw his focus.

He didn’t get as many practice hours in as he would’ve liked, and went to Brookhaven College late Saturday night to get in a few more reps. His job, playing the national anthem before every Cowboys game in Arlington, is now center stage at a national debate, and reporters have invaded his normally peaceful green room to ask him questions about it.

Then there’s the blue ribbon on the bell of his trumpet, there to honor his younger sister who died unexpectedly last week. Not to mention the thousands of fans in the stadium and millions around the country who will watch the game on TV.

They’re all possible distractions, so Jones closes his eyes and focuses on focusing.

G-G-G-G-G.

When he feels ready, he takes a breath and slowly plays those notes he knows you know.

G-E-C-E-G-C.

O say can you see?

Trumpet player Freddie Jones, shown playing the national anthem at Sunday's Cowboys-Rams game, says, "I'm just trying to play it as best I can every time."

(Ashley Landis/Staff Photographer)

Trumpeter Freddie Jones perform the national anthem before the Dallas Cowboys Los Angeles Rams game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, October 1, 2017.

(Tom Fox/Staff Photographer)

Surrounded by music

Jones is the only musician in his family, but he grew up surrounded by music.

In the Lauderdale Sub neighborhood of Memphis, Tenn., his home was down the street from Hi Records, home to soul artists like Al Green. His mother got her hair done across the street from the historic Stax studios, where everyone from Aretha Franklin to Otis Redding cut albums.

He started playing trumpet in middle school, and moved to Texas after an unexpected audition for the University of North Texas' music program got him a spot in the school’s prestigious program.

Four years ago, a friend put his name in for an audition with America’s Team. About 10 trumpeters auditioned for the gig, and Jones didn’t expect to get the job. More than a month later, he got a call from the Cowboys.

He’s been playing the national anthem at home games ever since.

'Not a normal day'

G-G-G-G-G.

About an hour and a half before kickoff, a TV crew from Texarkana is setting up lights in the green room while Jones continues to warm up.

“It’s not a normal day,” he said.

On a normal day, these people wouldn’t be here. On a normal day, he’d be playing the anthem alone, not answering questions on camera.

The TV reporter asks what it feels like to play America’s anthem for America’s Team. She doesn’t say it outright, but the protests are why she’s asking.

Jones dodges, and says he doesn’t get nervous but just focuses on the microphone in front of him.

“If I think of everything around me, I’d be nervous, but I’m not,” he said. “I’m just trying to play it as best I can every time.”

Jones has thoughts on recent NFL protests, but doesn’t want you to know them. Besides, he’s contractually prohibited from discussing team matters and doesn’t want to comment on the subject.

All Cowboys, Rams stand for national anthem; Dallas remains 1 of 6 NFL teams not to kneel, sit or raise fist

He lets the song speak for itself, he said. His job is just to perform the tune well enough that you’ll be able to sing along in the stands.

The protests show just how much emotion is tied up with the anthem. People can apply all kinds of ideology to its melody, and Jones knows that makes The Star-Spangled Banner more than just a song.

“That would be like saying James Brown is just a singer,” Jones said. “There’s too much history there.”

History that shows the song’s spirit, he says.

“The song was written as a revolutionary song. It was written for that purpose,” he said. “Any way you look at it. How can you not look at the song as the basis for life in a free world? I don’t know. My thing is to play the song as is, so people will sing it.”

'To honor America'

As the rockets’ red glare flashes over the home sideline, America’s Team runs onto the field of AT&T Stadium 10 minutes before kickoff.

The stadium cheers as Jones stands on the sideline, his blue horn in one hand, his other in the pocket of a double-breasted suit he changed into for the performance.

When he gets the cue, he strides down the 50 yard line. He turns and finds a clock in the stands, ticking down to kickoff.

On the Cowboys sideline, every player is standing. On the Rams sideline, the players have locked arms. One raises his fist in the air. The game is being nationally televised, but Fox Sports cuts away from Jones’ performance.

At AT&T Stadium, however, the camera of the big screen focuses on the bell of Jones’ blue trumpet. He pauses a moment, eyes on the clock. When the clock hits 4:15, he takes a breath, and the bell of his horn raises, shielding his face from the camera.

G-E-C-E-G-C. O say can you see?

Freddie Jones plays the national anthem on his trumpet before the Los Angeles Rams vs. the Dallas Cowboys NFL football game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sunday, October 1, 2017.